Color inker for cylinder presses



Feb. 3, 1948. A. w. LINN ETAL 2,435,452

COLOR INKER FOR CYLINDER PRES SES Filed May 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I3 I 255 K INVENTORS mas/e7 W. lmlv Y flL/BEET C. P025255 Feb. 3, 1948. w, L|NN r 2,435,452

COLOR INKER FOR CYLINDER PRESSES Filed May 5, 1945' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HLBEE W. LINN BY HLBEET C. FORBES Feb. 3, 1948.

A. w. LINN ETAL- COLOR INKER FOR CYLINDER, PRESSES Filed May 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a U- [1m Q n I\ l i I I n N N I N "a m: I

n v q W N N u; I a x\ l i [iii 17 A n 3 f 7 i v Q: s l N g N 2? 3 I a 4 I fT 11 A U T I I I I V i I I INVENTOR5. E E 41.5591 W. LINN L -2 By M5527 C. FORBES Feb. 3, 1948. A. w. LINN ETAL 2,435,452} COLOR I NKER FOR CYLINDER PRE SSES Filed May 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 24 l 12L INVENTORS HLEEET W. LINN BY 4 L 55/2 7 c. F0555 Patented Feb. 3, 1948 OFFICE COLOR INKER FOR CYLINDER PRESSES Albert W. Linn and Albert 0. Forbes, Memphis, Tenn.

Application May 5, 1945, Serial No. 592,150

3 Claims.

This invention relates to auxiliary devices for inking the type plates of printing presses of the cylinder type, such as are used in printing newspapers, and has especial relation to devices which may be attached to and removed from standard cylinder presses, where it is desired to print a page or portion of a page of the paper in ink other than that being used in the body of the paper, as when portions of a page are to be printed in red or other color and over-printed in the usual blank ink.

In modern newspaper presses, the paper is fed continually between the type plates of page width, and impression cylinders which hold the paper against the type and print one side of the page, the paper then continuing an additional pair of cylinders which print the opposite side of the page, and where over-printing is to be done, to a third pair of cylinders where such over-printing is done, the printing sequence varying as occasion may demand.

These presses each have several banks of rolls, each bank including a type cylinder roll and numerous rolls which feed into the'type cylinders. The rolls are of length to carry a number, usually four, type plates of page width, each plate being precast in semi-cylindrical form and secured on the roll, and as many, usually up to four, being used as it is desired to print pages of the paper on that pass.

All the type plates on one roll are inked at the same time by the related group of ink feeding rolls which are supplied from an underlying trough or fountain and which effect proper distribution of the ink and obviously must use ink of a single color. The direction of rotation of these rolls is governed by the direction of rotation of the type plates, which in turn is dependent on whether the under or upper side of the sheet is being printed.

From time to time it occurs that it is desirable to print a single page in a different color, or to print color touches on a page and over-print in standard color ink. This may be done by use of a single type plate for the desired page and the regular ink distributing system, but requires the cleaning of the distributing troughs or fountains, both before and after use, an almost prohibitive task, and involves the use of and loss of such excessive quantities of both regular and special inks that it is scarcely ever warranted. Additionally, should it be desired to print the pages of differing color it is impossible.

The present invention contemplates an auxiliary ink feeding mechanism usable in connection with the regular ink distributing rollers, which auxiliary mechanism may be temporarily substituted for the regular feeding mechanism, which mechanism may be attached to and detached from the press, and positioned to deliver 2 ink to any desired section of the ink distributing rolls and thereby in usual manner to the type plate inked by such action of the rolls.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide an auxiliary inking mechanism which is attachable to frame portions of a cylinder press and driven by ink distributing rolls thereof to feed ink to a local section of such rolls;

To provide an auxiliary ink feeding mechanism, including a supporting frame which is conformable for attachment to a particular press with which it is to be used, which mechanism is adjustable with respect to such frame to establish driving contact with an ink distributing roll of the press;

To provide an auxiliary ink feeding mechanism engageable with an ink distributing roll of a cylindrical press and driven thereby, having driving means for the ink pick-up portion of such mechanism effective to reverse the direction of rotation of such pick-up portion with relation to the other portions thereof;

To provide an auxiliary inking mechanism including a pick-up roll and means for regulating the amount of ink delivered by such roll;

To provide an auxiliary ink feeder which may be substituted for a regular ink feeder of a cylinder press to locally feed to the related ink distributing rolls ink of a desired color.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment, will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation through the feeder and'supporting frame therefor, with the driving roller of the feeder in driven contact with a roll of a cylinder printing press.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the feeder.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the same end of the feeder with the driving mechanism cut away to show the adjusting mechanism for roller bearings thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan view; and

Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional front elevation showing the driving end of the mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

H and I3 are stationary rods or members which form a usual part of the frame of a cylinder printing press, and IS a fragmentary portion of one of the ink distributing rolls of such a press.

In the auxiliary feeder herein described, a, supporting frame is provided which has end members H, which members are notched for engagement with the press member I 3. l 9 are vertically disposed members rigidly secured to the members [1, and 21 additional vertical members slidably adjustable with respect to the memb-ersl9 and clamped when adjusted as by the bolts 22. The

Integrally secured to -the end members [1 and longitudinally extending therebetween are base members 24 which are adapted to support an ink-* trough 25 in which the ink 26 is; carried, This,

trough is substantially of the length" of am ne cylinder of the press, has a front-1wall'25A;'-bot-"; tom 253, back Wall 250, roughly of thesameheight as the front wall, and end walls 25D, which have upwardly extending portions 25E, 25F spaced apart to form guides for journal block's' 2-l-an'd 29. The upper of theseblocks journal the shaft 3| of adrivingandink transferring roll 33 which has2a; resilient cover 33A, as of rubber; adapted for driving-contact with the press roll |5rand for transfer of ink-thereto. 7 I

Theblocks- 29,-journal the :shaft 35' of an intermediate roll'31," whichcontacts and is driven by the-resilient surface'33A of the roll 33v and is adapted to transferink thereto. 7

' Disposed-belowtheroll 31 is an ink pick-up roll- 39 which is mounted-onashaft 4 l j ournalled in the end walls -25D-0f the-ink trough, this roll beingzspaced in such; adjacency to; but not incontact with the roll 31, that it will deliver ink picked up from-thetroughto the roll 31, but may be driven in the same peripheral direction or the oppositedirection with reference to the roll' 31. Preferably the rolls 3'! and 39 are o f metal'accue rately turned-andfpolished in order; that the spacing therebetween may be uniformand not ry.-. 4 r

The Lblocks29. journalling the roller '31 are sup-v ported by screws 43through which they may be adjustedtoward or away from the roll 39t0'secure the desired clearancebetween the surfaces of the two rollsfand after adjustmentare clamped bythe screws-45. Theblocks 21 journalling-the roller, 33 may' be adjusted relatively to the blocks 29ito secure the proper contactbetween the 'roll+ e'rs 3'l'and33fland'after such adjustment'may be clamped to the guide'blo'ck'sr25E and 25F by; the screws 41.

Mounted on the end'walls 25D ofthe trough is a'bari 491tojthe underside of which is secured a thin flexiblew strip. or. stripper 5! which. isl-de+ fiected-by thumb screws. 5'3v intoadjacency to or contact. with thefrollen 39, tostl p Off l s ink carried upward from the trough by theroller, the screws preferably, being uniform. distances apart along thelengthlofthebar. Thejink' pickrlupfrollsfifl'must. turn in relation to this stripper. so that the surplus ink stripped ofi'will drain back into theftrough and can, there fore, only be driven in the, direction'of the arrow D irrespective of the direction in which the'other rollers turn. o I V The shaft 4] of,, the roller 39 extends, beyond one of the end wa11sf25D," and has secured thereon'a' wormwheel 55 withwhich meshes aworm 51. The worm't] is securedona vertically dispose'dshaft 59; which at its upperand lowerends is, journalled in blocks 6], ,63 respectively, which are carriedi by the adjacent end walland guide members 25D; 25E andZBF of the ink trough.

Securedon the upper end. of the shaft 59 are beveled pinions 65 and 61, 3vhich'are adapted to mesh with awbevel'pinion 69 on the shaft 3| which carries the upper roller 33, thegears 65am. 6!

beingiso spaced apart that only oneor the other may so mesh. Spaced equallyrespectively above and belowthe brackets3-lfandt3 are additional 4 brackets H and 13, the spacings of these brackets, as the bracket H from the bracket 6 I, being equal to the amount of shift necessary to move the pinionili'! 'outoffrnesh withfand' the pinion 65 into mesh with, the pinion 69; The shaft 59"projects through the bracket 6! into engagement with the bracket H when the pinion 65 is out of mesh withvthe pinin169; the opposite end of the shaft beingflush with the underside of the bracket 63 and the pinions 61 and 69 in mesh.

l-'is a removable block, here designated a reverseplate,. which is interposed between the brackets 63 and '13 and in engagement with the lower end of the shaft 59 to hold the pinions 61 and 69 in this engagement. This plate is removed and used'between' th'eupper brackets '6l andll to engage-the upper of'the shaft 59331161 hold the pinion '65-f-in mesh with the pinion369yl to reverse the direction of rotation of the: worm 5-! and through itthe .worm gear 55;-anddrive the rol1er 39 oppositely with respect totherollers-33 and 31, r s v Secured' to the opposite ends of the support frame is-an anchor barTl, and'secured tothe back; 250 of the ink'trough is a complementary anchor clamp 19 which may beengaged with the clamp bar to secure the ink trough againstdisplacement relatively to the supporting frameand the press rolls; Adjacent its front; brackets 8| are secured to the oppositeends 25D 0f the trough, these brackets having horizontally extending legs 81A through which set screws 83 are disposed, thelower ends of these screws seating on the forwardoneof the base members 24 of the :frame and being adapted tdiraise the-front edge of-the trough and correspondingly tip theupper roller 33 into driving contact with the roll l5. of the press and provide adjustment through-which-the contact pressures of the roller androllmay be adjusted. V 7

To prepare the inker for use, theroller 31 is adjusted relatively to the roller 39 to establish'a clearance of about two thicknesses of news print paper therebetween and the roller -33.-in-to.-rolling and driving'contact with the roller 31, relations being later further adjusted asresultscbtained under'usewarrantn The-stripper is deflected-by the screws 53linto adjacency with, butnot in con-i tactwith, the roll 39. a 1 r T h In using the inker,=the ink pick-up 101101"?- a bank of type'fcylinders and ink feeding rolls, with which color is to be used, is, ordinarily removed. The supporting frame for the auxiliary inker is mounted on' the frame members I Land I 3. of :the press in substantial alinement, longitudinally: of the press rol1s,with the type cylinder which isrto be colorinked andis securely clamped in place,

The ink trough 25 and roller assembly-displaced onthe base members 24 of the frameandif-nOt already projecting the set screws 83 are run down to project vslightly through" the bracketlegs; and tip theroller 33slightly-backwardr The assembly is shifted longitudinally into aline ment withthe type cylinder to be inked and-the roller 33into engagement with the roll l5, with the anchor clamp'lilembracing. the anchor bar 11; When positioned the clamp 19-is-tightened on and anchored to the bar' H. and the screws-83-tightened or loosened to adjust, thevroller and roll contact.

Depending on the direction in which the .roll

I Bturns, the reverse plate 75 is insertedbeneath or above the, endof the shaft 59 and the proper pinions 6'! and 69, or- 65 and 69 are engaged so that: the roller 39 will be caused; to turn in the direction-ofthe arrow D.; The inktrough is filled to desired level with ink 29 of the color to be used, and the inker is ready for a trial run.

As the presses start, the roller 39 pick up ink and carries it past the stripper 5| to the roller 31. The pressman adjusts the screws 53 to restrict or increase the amount of ink passing the stripper and effect a fairly uniform film of ink on the roller 39, and may also adjust the pressure of the roller 33 against the roll I5, or the roller 31 and the spacing of the rollers 31 and 39. The roller 31 transfers the ink to the roller 33, and thence to the roll l5 and that roll transfers it to the other distributing rolls and the type cylinder which is to be inked.

As proofs are delivered from the press they are examined by the pressman and such adjustment of the stripper with respect to the roller 39 is made as is necessary to even up and increase or decrease the flow of ink as the proofs indicate lack or surplus, such observation and adjustment usually being continued from time to time during the printing of the paper.

One of the functions of the distributing rolls of the press is to effect longitudinal distribution of the ink along the rolls as well as around them, such distribution is, however, of minor amount and extends little beyond the type margins of the page being printed, where a page Wide inker is used.

If desired, two color inkers using different colored ink may be used at one time for a four page press.

It will be understood that the term rollers has been used in the description of the auxiliary inker solely for the purposes of distinguishing from more or less similar rolls of the press.

We claim:

1. An auxiliary device for inking type plates of a cylinder printing press having ink distributing rolls; which device includes an ink holder or trough, rollers having shafts carried and journalled in bearings carried by said trough, including an ink pick-up roller depending into said trough, an intermediate roller in ink transfer adjacency above said pick-up roller, but not in contact therewith, and an ink transfer roller in driving contact with and above said intermediate roller; means for supporting said trough from and anchoring same to said press, with said transfer roller in driven and ink transfer contact with a distributing roll of said press, means for regulating the amount of ink delivered by said pick-up roller to said intermediate roller, and means for driving and reversing the direction of rotation of said pick-up roller relatively to said transfer roller, comprising a worm wheel mounted on the shaft of said pick-up roller, a worm meshing with said wheel, bearings carried by said trough, a shaft carrying said worm journalled in said bearings and longitudinally shiftable with relation to said bearings, said shaft extending across the end of the shaft of said transfer roller, a bevel driving gear carried by said transfer roller shaft, 3, pair of complementary bevel gears mounted on said shaft in spaced relation and position for respective engagement with said driving gear by opposite longitudinal shift of said shaft, means transferrable at option to engage and hold said shaft and gears carried thereby in either shifted position to effect said reversal.

2. An auxiliary device for inking type plates of a cylinder printing press having ink distributing rolls; which device includes an ink holder or trough, rollers having shafts carried and journalled by said trough, including an ink pick-up roller depending into said trough, an intermediate roller in ink transfer adjacency to said pick-up roller, but not in contact therewith, and an ink transfer roller in driving contact with said intermediate roller; means for supporting said trough from and anchoring same to said press,

with said transfer roller in driven and ink transfer contact with a distributing roll of said press, means for regulating the amount of ink delivered by said pick-up roller to said intermediate roller, and means for driving and reversing the direction of rotation of said pick-up roller relatively to said transfer roller, comprising a worm wheel mounted on the shaft of said pick-up roller, a worm meshing with said wheel, bearings carried by said trough, a shaft carrying said worm journalled in said bearings and longitudinally shiftable with relation thereto, said shaft extending transversely to and beyond the shaft of said transfer roller, a bevel driving gear carried by said transfer roller shaft, a pair of complementary bevel gears mounted on said shaft in spaced relation and position for respective engagement with said driving gear by opposite longitudinal shift of said shaft, bracket members carried by said trough respectively overlying the opposite ends of said shaft, and a block optionally transferrable into engagement between either end of said shaft and the related said bracket member to maintain said shift and gear engagement.

3. An auxiliary device for inking a type plate of a cylinder printing press, having ink distributing rolls; which device includes an adjustable supporting frame adapted to be positioned along transverse members of said press, means for detachably anchoring said frame to said members; and ink feeding means comprising a unitary assembly, adjustably supported by said frame and removable therefrom; said assembly including an ink trough having upwardly extending end.

walls, a :pick-up roller depending within said trough, an intermediate roller above and adjacent to but not contacting said pick-up roller, and a transfer roller above and in driving contact with said intermediate roller, said end Walls carrying bearings journalling said rollers; means for anchoring said assembly to said frame, and means for tilting said assembly with respect to said frame for shifting said transfer roller into driven contact with an ink distributing roll of said press; means for regulating ink delivery from said pick-up roller to said intermediate roller, means for driving said pick-up roller from said transfer roller, and means for reversing the relative direction of said drive.

ALBERT W. LINN.

ALBERT C. FORBES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,719,148 Vickers July 2, 1929 2,351,013 Carpenter June 13, 1944 2,350,580 Blackley June 6, 1944 2,224,331 Wittnebel Dec. 10, 1940 1,975,681 Brawn Oct. 2, 1934 

